Fewer colleges offering language majors, courses

RIVERSIDE, California (USANN4)–A new report indicates that traditional language programs have steadily declined over the last few decades. The Chronicle of Higher Education says that the study was performed by scholars at the University of California at Riverside. It says during the 1970-71 academic year, Romance-language majors were offered by 76 percent of American four-year colleges.

By 2005-06, only about 59 percent offered them. German programs also saw a similar decline. In 1970-71, 44 percent of colleges offered the major. In 2005-06, just under 27 percent did so.